Rachna Bisht Rawat comes up with her new book on Bipin Rawat
- Author Rachna Bisht Rawat has come up with her new book titled “Bipin: The Man Behind the Uniform.”
- The book focuses on the life, personality, and principles of General Bipin Rawat who served as India’s first Chief of Defence Staff.
- He passed away tragically in a helicopter crash in 2021.
- The book has been published by Penguin Veer, a Penguin Random House imprint.
V V Giri National Labour Institute and ASSOCHAM sign MoU
- V.V. Giri National Labour Institute (VVGNLI) and Associated Chambers of Commerce & Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) have entered into a strategic alliance by signing an MoU.
- VVGNLI is an autonomous body of Ministry of Labour & Employment
- The strategic alliance aims to promote professional and organisational development in labour and employment-related areas.
Arun Agarwal named chair of Community Bond Task Force in Dallas
- Indian-American CEO of Dallas-based “Nextt”, Arun Agarwal, has been appointed chair of the Community Bond Task Force (CBTF) committee as part of the 2024 Capital Bond Programme development process.
- He will lead the CBTF committee, a 15-member group, to assist the Dallas city council and city staff in reviewing and selecting projects for consideration in the 2024 Capital Bond Programme.
NGT levies penalty on Kochi Municipal Corporation
- The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Kochi Municipal Corporation in Kerala to pay an environmental compensation of Rs 100 crore,
- It has been fined for the damage to the environment because of its failure to handle solid waste.
- The bench comprised judicial member Justice Sudhir Agarwal and expert member A Senthil Vel.
Actor Lance Reddick passes away
- Actor Lance Reddick passed away in March 2023.
- He was best known for his commanding presence as a police chief on the acclaimed television drama “The Wire” and for his supporting work in the “John Wick” action-film series.
- He also released a jazz album, “Contemplations and Remembrances” in 2007.
Cabinet approves listing of IREDA on Stock Exchanges
- Govt has approved for listing of the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency on the Stock Exchanges.
- The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) decided to approve an Initial Public Offer (IPO) by part sale of Government’s stake in the CPSE to raise funds through issue of fresh equity shares.
- Dept of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) will drive the listing process.
International Ayurvet conclave on Veterinary and Ayurveda inaugurated
- International Ayurvet conclave on the theme ‘Veterinary and Ayurveda’, was inaugurated at Rishikul campus of Ayurvedic University at Haridwar on 17 March 2023.
- The event will conclude on March 19.
- The seminar was addressed by Union Minister of State for Animal husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries Sanjiv Baliyan.
7 Textile Mega Parks to be set up at cost of Rs 4445 crore
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that seven PM MITRA (PM Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel) mega textile parks would be set up.
- They will come up in Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
- PM MITRA Parks aims to propel India as a global hub for textile manufacturing and exports.
Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav elected as the third Vice President of Nepal
- Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav on 17 March 2023, elected as the Vice President of Nepal.
- Ram Sahay of the Janata Samajbadi Party defeated Ashta Laxmi Shakya of CPN-UML and Mamata Jha of the Janamat Party to become the country’s third Vice President.
- Article 67 of the Constitution of Nepal provides a Vice President in the country. The tenure of the Vice President is five years.
India-Bangladesh Friendship pipeline to be inaugurated on 18 March
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh, will jointly inaugurate the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline on 18 March 2023.
- This is the first cross-border energy pipeline between India and Bangladesh, built at an estimated cost of Rupees 377 crore
- The Pipeline has the capacity to transport 1 Million Metric Ton Per Annum (MMTPA) of High-Speed Diesel (HSD).
BRO opens strategic Zojila Pass in record 68 days
- The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) on 16 March opened the strategic Zojila Pass for vehicle movement.
- Zojila Pass is located on the Greater Himalayan Range at an altitude of 11,650 feet which acts as a gateway between the Union Territories of Ladakh, and Jammu & Kashmir.
- It remained closed for only 68 days in 2023 as compared to 73 days in 2022.
NIOT to set up green, self-powered Desalination Plant in Lakshadweep
- The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) in March 2023 announced to set up of an emission-free Desalination plant in Lakshadweep.
- Currently, the desalination plants, each of which provides at least 100,000 liters of potable water every day, are powered by diesel generator sets.
- The NIOT will use Low-Temperature Thermal Desalination (LTTD) technology.
Poland to be first NATO country to provide fighter jets to Ukraine
- Poland’ President Andrzej Duda announced to send four Soviet-era Mig-29 fighter jets to Ukraine in the coming days.
- The transfer would make Poland the first North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member to have delivered the fighter jets.
- Slovakia has also announced that it would send 13 MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine in the coming weeks.
Deepak Bagla steps down as MD & CEO of Invest India
- Deepak Bagla, Managing Director and CEO of Invest India resigned from his post on 17 March 2023.
- Invest India is the Indian government’s National Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency setup in 2009 under section 25 of the Companies Act.
- Bagla is the President of the Geneva based World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies with membership of 105 countries.
RBI imposes monetary penalty on HDFC, IGH Holdings for non-compliance
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 17 March 2023, imposed a monetary penalty of ₹5 lakh on Housing Development Finance Corporation Limited (HDFC) and ₹11.25 lakh on IGH Holdings Private Limited for non-compliance with certain rules.
- The IGH Holdings was failed to comply with the statutory requirement of transferring 20% of the net profit for the financial year 2020-21 to the Reserve Fund.
BPCL appoints G Krishnakumar as its Chairman and Managing Director
- Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) on 17 Mar’23 appointed G. Krishnakumar as its new Chairman & Managing Director.
- He is currently serving as the Executive Director of the company.
- Krishnakumar has been associated with BPCL for 36 years, leading the organization’s customer-centric ventures into convenience retailing, premium fuels, and new tech & digital initiatives in the company.
Govt to develop mega textile parks in 7 states under PM MITRA scheme
- The union govt on 17 Mar’23 announced that the mega textile parks under the PM Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) scheme will be set up in seven states.
- The list includes Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
- Mega parks will boost the textiles sector in line with 5F (Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign) vision.
NCLT approves HDFC, HDFC Bank merger
- The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) on 17 Mar 2023, approved the merger of HDFC & HDFC Bank.
- HDFC Ltd has already received approvals from the Reserve Bank of India, and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
- NCLT has also given approval for holding a shareholders’ meeting for obtaining approval for the proposed merger.
- The merger is expected to be completed by end of FY24.
India Post partners with Shiprocket to benefit Startups and MSMEs
- India Post signed an MoU with Shiprocket to enhance its last-mile delivery services for various E-commerce products.
- The MoU will provide shipping and last-mile delivery services to Shiprocket’s three lakh strong seller base which includes Startups and a large number of small and medium businesses.
- It would also enable automated shipping and faster delivery for merchants.
Meghalaya gets electric trains for the first time
- The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) announced that Meghalaya has got the electric train for the first time in March 2023.
- NFR has completed the electrification of Dudhnai – Mendipathar line section and Abhayapuri – Pancharatna double line section on 15th March, 2023.
- Mendipathar is the only railway station in the northeastern state of Meghalaya which is in operation since 2014.
Rajasthan CM announced 19 new districts and three new divisions
- Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on 17 Mar 2023 announced 19 new districts and 3 new divisions in the state.
- A high-level committee was set up to examine the proposals for the new district creation and based on the final report of the committee, the announcement was made in the Assembly.
- Some of the new districts include Anupgarh, Balotara, Beawar, Deeg, Jaipur South, Jodhpur East, etc.
Manipur governor inaugurates Int’l Conference on ‘Natural Farming’
- Manipur Governor Sushri Anusuiya Uikey inaugurated three days long an International conference on the theme ‘Natural farming for Revitalizing Environment and Resilient Agriculture’ at Central Agricultural University of Manipur on 17 March 2023.
- The conference also exhibited the natural farming products of innovative farmers from Manipur and other North Eastern States.
India among 25 worst terrorism-hit countries: Global Terrorism Index
- India was among the 25 worst terror-hit countries, according to the 10th edition of the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2023.
- The report said deaths globally from terrorism fell by 9% to 6,701 in 2022.
- Afghanistan remained the country most impacted by terrorism for the fourth consecutive year.
- Pakistan remained among the 10 countries most affected by terrorism in 2022.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrant for Putin
- The International Criminal Court (ICC) on 17 March 2023 issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
- The court alleges he is responsible for war crimes and has focused its claims on the unlawful deportation of children from Ukraine to Russia.
- Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, is also wanted by the ICC for the same crimes.